J Sl5.J Mr. Copsey^s Catechism 



bleeds of llic French king, therefore 

 would not make a treaty of commerce 

 with any other nation ; and that the 

 King- of Siam's incliiialion was not far 

 from embracing Christianity. The 

 King of Trance being flattered by these 

 relations, sent in return two ambassa- 

 dors to Siam, and 800 soldiers, with 

 their officers, as Jikewisc six Jesuits. 

 But lliis embassy produced no good cou- 

 scqiicnce, for the prime minister, Con- 

 stance, perished four years after, a 

 \ictim to his ambition ; and tlie few 

 French that were at that time alive in 

 Siam, were cither massacred or obliged 

 to save themselves by flight ; and the 

 widow of Coiislance, after being on the 

 point of being made Queen of Siam, 

 was condemued by the successor of the 

 King of Siam to serve in the kitchen, 

 • — an employment to which she was born. 

 April 18. S. L. C. 



To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



SIR, 



THE Interrogative Systlm of 

 Blair, Goldsmith, &c. being now 

 adopted in mostof our respectable semi- 

 naries, 1 tlihik a series of questions and 

 answers on the nature and the duties of 

 society might be advantageously admit- 

 ted among the number of our school- 

 Ijooks. As the youth now at our dilfe- 

 rent places of instruction are soon to be- 

 come the mechanics, the merchants, the 

 judges, and the senators of the laud, 

 what can be more important than to 

 acquaint them with the duties which 

 will devolve ou them when they come 

 to fill these various offices of life? A 

 statement of such duties should be 

 founded rather on our obligations as ii> 

 dividuals of the family of man, than on 

 the ground of being members of any par- 

 ticular country or nation ; though oeca- 

 pional references might be ihade to the 

 Lcncfitsand the iacoiivcuicnces of parti- 

 cular governments. 



In the hope that some one of your 

 readers will undertake the execution of 

 such a Work as is now suggested, 1 beg 

 leave to offer the following qiicslions 

 and answers, wliich may jjcrhaps be 

 thought a|)piopiiate to form part of such 

 a work.* Daniei, Copsuv. 



Braintref-Sclwnl ; April 2, 18J6. 



CateeJiitm of t/w Duties of Society. 

 What do you mean by sot'iety ? — An 



• friiich a work is in the press, and will 

 ■p^edily make iis appearance. — Kuir. 

 Monthly Maw. No. 2b7. 



of the Duties of Society. 1 7 



association of men for mutual protecfioa 

 and advantage. 



How is this protection ensured? — By 

 a division of the associatlou into rulers 

 and nded. 



By what means is this division efTcct- 

 ed? — By mutual agreement: that is, 

 a selection is made of one of the number 

 to be the head. This distinction is origi- 

 nally conferred, on account either of su- 

 perior mental endowments, or of emi- 

 nently active and skilful courage. 



In a well-ordered coniuumity, does sole 

 and arbitrary power rest in one man? — 

 No: it is vested iii the three giand divi- 

 sions into which civilized society natu- 

 rally resolves itself; viz. the king, the 

 nobles, and the great body of the peo- 

 ple. A. government in which tlic sole 

 power is vested in the fast division is 

 called a monarchy ; when it regis in iho 

 hands of the second, it is termed au 

 aristocracy ; and, if in the tliird, a demo- 

 cracy. Any one of these existing scjia- 

 rately is inimical to the freedom ami 

 happiness of a state. Tu general a mo- 

 narchy is preferable to an aristocracy, 

 and both are superior to a democracy. 

 When the three are blended, the advan- 

 tages of each are secured, witiiout the 

 dangers of either. 



Does all power then originate in the 

 people? — Assuredly: Nature has givea 

 the right of government, in each sepa- 

 rate family, to the fattier of that family ; 

 but equal rights and privileges are the 

 birthright of a nation, taken collec- 

 tively. 



There is then a mutual compact be- 

 tween rulers and people? — This was the 

 case at the original institution of all go- 

 vernmeufs. A nation should be consi- 

 dered as a large family, whose interests 

 are closely connected, and who are to 

 be presided over by one who should be 

 tlie father of the community. In him 

 the affections and the confidence of the 

 whole should concentrate. 

 "To right the injiu''U, and reward tb(j 



brave ;" 

 Relieve the wretched, and th' oppress'd to 



save; 

 For these to kings the sceptre we confide ; 

 A father's heart should be the monarchy 

 guide. 



By what rule is the king to govern? — 

 The |)eople propound the rules by which 

 they will be governed ; and the chief or 

 king is admitted to liis high olTicc on 

 the condition of governing according to 

 the intent of such rules. 



How is protection insured in sucli a 

 U compile I .' 



